Soccer Players The Best Soccer Players from Turkey

List Rules Soccer players from Turkey or played for the Turkish national team.

Who comes to mind when you think of the best Turkish soccer players of all time? For many soccer fans, famous footballers such as Hakan Şükür and Arda Turan have to be in the top ten. So to see which Turkish footballers truly stand out, fans like you have voted on who they think are the best of all time. It can be a pitched battle, as there have been many top footballers from Turkey.

The list below is formatted so that the soccer players with the most votes are at the top of the list. Short biographies, photos, and details such as positions played are included when available. If you're searching for a particular famous Turkish soccer player, you can use the search box to find what you're looking for. So, if you've ever wondered whether one Turkish footballer was better than another, this list answers that question.

So who qualifies to be in the running for the best soccer players from Turkey? The player must either be Turkish born or have played for the Turkish national soccer team. So players such as Mesut Özil, who is of Turkish descent but played for Arsenal and the German national team, are not eligible. Players that are eligible for this list include Rüştü Reçber, who played for the Turkey national team.

This list should answer any questions about who are the best Turkish soccer players of all time, once and for all. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of the best Turkish soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy learning about.

list ordered by

1

414 155

Metin OktayForward Metin Oktay nicknamed the Uncrowned King by Galatasaray SK fans, was a Turkish footballer and one of the most successful goal scorers in Turkey.

2

516 244

Hakan ŞükürForward Hakan Şükür, known by his nick name Kral – literally meaning The King – is a Turkish retired footballer who played as a striker. He spent the majority of his professional career with ...more

3

353 158

Rüştü ReçberGoalkeeper Rüştü Reçber is a retired Turkish international footballer who has played for Antalyaspor, Fenerbahçe, Barcelona and Beşiktaş. He has played a key role in the success of ...more

4

290 124

Tugay KerimoğluMidfielder Tugay Kerimoğlu is a Turkish former footballer who played the majority of his career for Galatasaray and Blackburn Rovers. Primarily a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, he was also competent as ...more

5

248 105

Nihat KahveciForward Nihat Kahveci is a Turkish former footballer.

6

317 147

Sergen YalçınMidfielder Ali Rıza Sergen Yalçın is a former Turkish footballer and is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Turkey. Sergen has played for every one of Turkey's big four clubs, ...more

7

593 318

Arda TuranForward, Midfielder Arda Turan is a Turkish footballer who plays for Spanish club Atlético Madrid as an attacking midfielder and is the captain of the Turkish national team. He is mostly known for his ball ...more

8

251 115

Lefter KüçükandonyadisForward Lefter Küçükandonyadis was a Turkish football player οf Greek descent, who is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Fenerbahçe and Turkey.

9

207 101

İlhan MansızForward İlhan Mansız is a German former football player and current competing figure skater of Crimean Tatar origin.

10

288 157

Nuri ŞahinMidfielder Nuri Şahin is a Turkish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Turkey national football team. He began his career at Borussia Dortmund, spending six ...more

11

240 133

Hasan SasForward, Midfielder Hasan Gökhan Şaş is a Turkish former footballer player who played as a winger and is currently an assistant manager of Galatasaray. He is best known for his time at Galatasaray and for his ...more

12

140 71

Can BartuMidfielder Can Bartu is a Turkish former basketball and football player. He is currently a sports journalist. He started to play basketball for Fenerbahçe and was a six-time international ...more

13

187 106

Bülent KorkmazDefender Bülent Korkmaz, known by his nick names Büyük Kaptan and Cengaver –literally meaning Great Captain and The Warrior respectively, is a retired Turkish football centre back and ...more

14

173 97

Hamit AltıntopMidfielder Hamit Altıntop is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for Galatasaray in the Süper Lig. He is a versatile midfielder who can play either in a defending or attacking role and on both ...more

15

179 107

Tuncay ŞanlıForward, Midfielder Tuncay Volkan Şanlı, or simply Tuncay, is a Turkish footballer who plays for Umm Salal SC in the Qatar Stars League. His natural position is the striker position, but he has played as an ...more

16

172 102

Ümit DavalaDefender, Midfielder Ümit Davala is a Turkish former international footballer. He was assistant manager at Galatasaray between 2011 and 2013.

17

135 74

Yıldıray BaştürkMidfielder Yıldıray Baştürk is a retired Turkish footballer who last played for English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers in 2010. He was capped 49 times for the Turkey national football team, ...more

18

178 118

Tanju ÇolakForward Tanju Çolak is a retired Turkish footballer, who played as a striker.

19

126 84

Ali Sami Yen Ali Sami Yen was a Turkish sports official best known as the founder of the Galatasaray Sports Club. His birth name was Ali Sami Frashëri, the son of Sami Frashëri, one of the most ...more

20

152 108

Gökdeniz KaradenizDefender, Midfielder Gökdeniz Karadeniz is a Turkish footballer. He currently plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for FC Rubin Kazan.

21

123 85

Şenol GüneşGoalkeeper Şenol Güneş is a Turkish football manager and former player. His biggest accomplishment to date is coaching the Turkish team that won the third place in the 2002 World Cup.

22

187 143

Burak YılmazForward, Midfielder Burak Yılmaz is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for Galatasaray and the Turkish national team as a striker.

23

129 98

Alpay ÖzalanDefender Fehmi Alpay Özalan, known as Alpay, is a former Turkish footballer, who is currently a member of the management committee of Siirtspor. He played 87 internationals for Turkey, including at ...more

24

89 68

uluhan-tepe added İlkay GündoğanMidfielder İlkay Gündoğan is a German footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national football team, having previously played for ...more

25

95 75

Ergün PenbeDefender, Midfielder Ergün Penbe is a Turkish retired footballer who played mostly as a left midfielder and left back, and a current manager. He is known for his "fair play" approach to the game, ...more

26

107 95

Hakan BaltaDefender Hakan Kadir Balta is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Galatasaray in the Süper Lig.

27

66 53

Cemil Turan Cemil Turan, is a former Turkish football player and a topscorer and current Director of Fenerbahçe S.K. Academy. He debuted at Sarıyer G.K. when he was 14. He transferred first to ...more

28

79 68

Mehmet AurélioMidfielder Mehmet Aurélio is a Brazilian-Turkish retired footballer who last played for Olaria in Brazil. He is currently the assistant manager of Kasımpaşa.

29

146 144

Caner ErkinMidfielder Caner Erkin is a Turkish footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe and the Turkish national team.

30

58 48

Okan BurukMidfielder Okan Buruk is a Turkish former international footballer who played in the midfielder position. He played for Galatasaray, Internazionale, Beşiktaş, and İstanbul Büyükşehir ...more

31

115 111

Fatih TerimDefender Fatih Terim, Commendatore OSSI, T.C, is a Turkish association football manager and former player who is manager of the Turkish national football team. His Turkish nickname is İmparator, and his ...more

32

89 85

Hakan Ünsal Hakan Ünsal is a Turkish former international footballer. Hakan Ünsal is remembered by many for his rocket left foot and his pinpoint passing as well as his nonstop desire for victory. ...more

33

74 69

Ogün TemizkanoğluDefender Ogün Temizkanoğlu is a Turkish former international footballer. He played mostly for Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe as a central defender. He also played for Konyaspor and ...more

34

115 118

Volkan DemirelGoalkeeper Volkan Demirel is a Turkish goalkeeper who plays for the Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and is also the goalkeeper for the Turkey national football team. Demirel was the starting ...more

35

86 87

Ümit KaranForward Ümit Karan is a retired Turkish football player. He played for Gençlerbirliği S.K., Ankaraspor, Galatasaray and Eskişehirspor. He made his international debut for Turkey in 1999, and ...more

36

66 65

Suat Kaya Suat Kaya is a Turkish former footballer who played as a midfielder, and a current coach.

37

53 51

Feyyaz UçarForward, Midfielder Feyyaz Uçar is a former footballer, as a striker, and more recently a coach. Uçar started his football career at Avcılar Spor Klübü. Attracting various scouts while with ...more

38

73 75

Fatih TekkeForward Fatih Tekke is a Turkish former international footballer who played as a striker.

39

48 46

Necati AteşForward Necati Ateş is a Turkish professional footballer who plays for Kayseri Erciyesspor as a forward.

40

44 42

Mehmet ÖzdilekMidfielder Mehmet "Şifo" Özdilek Turkish football manager and retired player who is nicknamed as Şifo after Belgian star Enzo Scifo with whom he shared a similar playing style. Having spent ...more

41

56 57

Sabri SarıoğluDefender, Midfielder Sabri Sarıoğlu is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Galatasaray. Sabri can also play as a right winger and a wingback.

42

62 65

Oktay DerelioğluForward Oktay Derelioğlu is Turkish former international footballer. Derelioğlu played as a forward and is notable for his goal against Belgium during the qualifying rounds of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. ...more

43

65 69

Elvir BaljićForward, Midfielder Elvir Baljić is a Bosnian football manager and former player. He was assistant manager of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, with whom he qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

44

68 74

Tümer MetinMidfielder Tümer Metin is a retired Turkish international footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder.

45

35 34

mertoyuncu added Gokhan Gonul

46

81 92

Aykut KocamanForward Aykut Kocaman is a former Turkish footballer, who played as a striker and current manager of Konyaspor. Before he made his debut 1980 with the amateur club Kabataş Altınmızrak in Istanbul, ...more

47

57 63

Abdullah ErcanDefender, Midfielder Abdullah Ercan is a retired Turkish international footballer. He currently manages Gaziantepspor and the Turkey U-17 team.

48

52 57

Arif ErdemForward Arif Erdem is a retired Turkish international footballer of Albanian descent and the former manager of İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. He played in the forward position. Starting out ...more

49

59 72

Gökhan InlerMidfielder Gökhan Inler is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A side Napoli. He began his professional career at FC Basel but did not break through, ...more

50

40 49

Ertuğrul SağlamForward Ertuğrul Sağlam is a Turkish football coach and former player. He was recently the manager of Eskişehirspor. Sağlam was recently voted one of the top 20 most promising coaches by respected ...more

not on the list? add item #142

List Rules: Soccer players from Turkey or played for the Turkish national team.